Chores - well I did better in that department when we were homeschooling. Now that they are in PS they are busier than ever so chores just kind of happen as needed. I know . .. not the best way to do it.

I don’t cook much in the summer because we are so busy but when school starts so does my cooking. I cook Monday through Thursday’s and the weekend is free for all or we go out. I get very bored cooking the same things over and over so I am constantly trying new recipes . . .I have thousands just waiting in my kitchen waiting to be tried

I split up the chores into three sections: morning routine, daily work, and evening routine. My kids aren’t allowed to eat breakfast until the morning routine is done. (You don’t work, you don’t eat). They are paid small amounts for weekly work (which I list by day) and the evening routine has to be done in order to avoid punishment. The evening routine is the hardest to enforce, but includes things like laying out tomorrow’s clothes so that the morning goes more smoothly. All I ever have to do is ask, “Have you finished your chart?”

If my oldest daughter’s room is not clean she has to go to bed at the same time as the younger children. That has been a wonderful incentive and has only happened 2 times in 3 months.

For my three year old, I posted the chores in pictures.

I think the hardest thing is writing the chores down and splitting them up.

Remember to inspect what you expect.

I show my kids love by listening, snuggling, dancing to praise music with them, jumping on the trampoline with them, and playing Star Wars under a Jay Jay the Jetplane blanket. Frequently, in the car, I look in the mirror and tell them that they are great kids and that I’m blessed to be their mom.

Thanks, Katherine- for stirring us all up!! Love you, AK

I’m hosting a Holiday Cooking, Blogger Style recipe exchange this Friday! Feel free to submit one of your family favorite recipes if you’d like!

To show the kids we love them we do little things for them when they least expect it… a trip to the toy store, waking up to one of their chores being done for them, taking them somewhere that they don’t think we’ll take them because of the time and gas $$ involved, etc.

Chores - each of our kids has their own chores which remain the same all of the time. If they want to rotate to a different chore they strike a deal with someone else in the family… this way *I* don’t have to be keeping track of who is supposed to do what….

You’ve asked some great questions. I set aside Mondays to plan my week, and that includes menu planning. I slot in all our fav. recipes on our weekly calendar, and I include new recipes too (usually on Sundays, when I have more time to play around and experiment.)

As for organizing the chores, I made up checklists on clip boards for each child, and we rotated jobs from week to week… that way no one is stuck with the dirty jobs forever! I rewarded my kids with a reasonable paid allowance, as if they were in the real workforce. Money is always a motivator, especially for my son, and he will do any job if the price is right. Often though, we will negotiate with no money involved: I will do this, if he will do that.

Loving our children? Wow, the answer is as unique as they are. ASK them what feels like love to them, and then be sure to DO it. This worked well for our kids.

A fun post! Hugs, e-Mom

I’m horrible with chores, so I’m loving all the advice here.

And for showing children love, I read the book “5 Love Languages of Children”. My daughter’s love language is time, so we plan special mom-daughter slumber parties and dad-daughter dates. My son is a physical affection loving kid, so we do lots of wrestling and running around.

For me the key to menu planning was taking the time to discover a repertoires of about 30 recipes that taste great, are simple to prepare, and take less than 30 minutes from start to finish. It took some work and experimenting initially, but it has paid off. I have them on 3×5 cards that I pull on the day before grocery shopping and then stick in the front section of my recipe box to prepare for the week. I re-file them as they are prepared. I also make sure I have two ‘emergency dinner’s planned that take no more than 10 minutes from start to finish for busy days or days that become overwhelming.

The housekeeping - I’m no help there : P Like Stephanie, I like Flylady and through her website I am slowly getting my act together.

For loving your children- Always keeping promises no matter how inconvenient, being willing to apologize to them and admit when you are in the wrong, and telling them - aloud and often. Actually, your blog is a perfect example of how to do just that - it reads like a love letter to your family and to God : )